Chevrolet Kodiak

Chevrolet Kodiak/GMC TopKick

Manufacturer	General Motors/Isuzu Motors
Also called	Isuzu H-Series
Production	1980–2009
Assembly	Flint, Michigan Toluca, Mexico Bogota, Colombia Tejerías, Venezuela[1]
Class	Medium Duty Truck
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

The Chevrolet Kodiak (and similar GMC TopKick and Isuzu H-Series) is a line of medium-duty trucks from General Motors. It was produced from 1980 to 2009, when General Motors exited the medium-duty truck market.

The Kodiak/TopKick were commonly used as a basis for work trucks, cargo haulers, dump trucks, and similar vehicles which required medium duty torque, GVWR, towing capacity. There are aftermarket coachbuilders that built them as pickup trucks and commercial trucks for consumers.

First generation (1981–1989)

1970s–1980s Chevrolet C-Series box truck

First generation

Production	1981–1989
Body style	2-door truck

The Kodiak and TopKick were introduced in 1980 as stronger versions of GM's existing medium-duty C-Series trucks. "Kodiak" followed the pattern of "frontier beast" names given to heavier trucks such as the Chevrolet Bison and Chevrolet Bruin, while "Top Kick" came from military slang and tied in with GMC's heavy truck names of General and Brigadier. First-generation models can be distinguished by a full-width grille with quad square headlights arranged horizontally in chrome bezels underneath with the GMC lettering or Chevy "bowtie" above the grille; normal 1973–89 C50-C80s had single round headlights and the emblem all incorporated into the grille area.

Second generation (1990–2002)

Early 1990s Chevrolet Kodiak box truck

Second generation

Production	1993–2002
Body style	2-door truck 4-door truck
Platform	GMT530/560

With the second generation in 1990, all GM medium-duty conventionals took on the "Kodiak" and "TopKick" names, until they were dropped in 1995; these models used the GMT400 pickup cab until 2003, always with the original "square" dashboard dropped from light-duty models in 1995. While U.S. production ended in 2002, they continued to be produced for the Mexican domestic market in GM's Toluca plant through 2008.

Third generation (2003–2009)

Third generation

Production	2003–2009
Body style	2-door truck 4-door truck
Engine	6.6L Duramax V8 diesel 7.8L I6 diesel 8.1L Vortec V8 gasoline
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 9-speed manual 10-speed manual 6-speed automatic 5-speed automatic
Related	Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana

2000s GMC TopKick in use as a U-Haul moving van.

Chevrolet C4500 4x4 crew cab

Beginning with the 2003 model year, US-market models moved to a new platform with a more spacious cab based on the GM full-size vans. The 4500 and 5500 trucks had the option for Four-wheel drive. These trucks featured solid front axles, on both 4x2 and 4x4, instead of independent front suspension featured on the Class 3 3500 trucks. The drive-train consisted of a Duramax V8 engine, a Allison 1000 transmission, and a Dana S 110 rear axle. The 4x4 models added a New Process 273 C Transfer case and a reverse cut Dana 70 front axle.

In December 2007, GM announced its intention to sell GM's medium-duty truck business, whose products include the Kodiak and TopKick, to Navistar International^[2]. In August 2008, both GM and Navistar announced that their memorandum of understanding for the purchase had expired and was not renewed ^[3][4]. After four years of working with multiple potential buyers, including an anticipated five-year deal with Isuzu Motors announced late in January 2009 to take over the production line in Flint, Michigan,^[5] General Motors decided to wind-down its medium-duty truck operations^[6]. Production of the Chevy Kodiak and GMC TopKick medium duty trucks in Flint ceased on July 31, 2009.

Variants

Pickup conversion

Autobot Ironhide TopKick conversion, on display at the 2007 Detroit River Walk Festival.

A special Kodiak C4500 was introduced at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. Aimed at the International RXT (also introduced there), pricing was set at $70,000. The two shared a number of similarities, such as the options included in their premium packages (a powerful audio system and DVD-based navigation system). In comparison, the C4500 had higher power (300 hp versus 230 hp) while the RXT had a higher towing capacity at 16,000 lb (7,300 kg); the C4500 was a 4x4 like the larger International CXT.

A conversion of the commercial GMC TopKick called the Ultimate Class IV TopKick Pickup crew cab pickup truck was developed by General Motors and Monroe Truck Equipment (MTE). This special version features an 8-foot (2.4 m) steel dually pickup box and tailgate with custom composite side panels and protective Rhino interior lining. This vehicle serves as the alternate mode for the character Ironhide in the 2007, 2009 and 2011 Transformers films.

Cadillac One

"Cadillac One", a one-of-a-kind Cadillac body mounted on the TopKick chassis.

Main article: Presidential state car (United States)

Entering into service on January 20, 2009, Cadillac One is a common name for the Presidential State Car of United States President Barack Obama. Unlike previous presidential limousines, it is not at all based on a production vehicle. Although badged as a Cadillac, the armored limousine uses the four-wheel drive chassis and powertrain of a General Motors medium-duty truck (the Kodiak/TopKick).^[7] As it is not a production vehicle, the car borrows parts from several different vehicles in the Cadillac lineup (primarily the Escalade and STS). For security reasons, many other details about Cadillac One remain classified.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: GMC Topkick or Chevrolet Kodiak

• Car and Driver road tests for the C4500.

References

1. ^ http://www.gm.com.ve/content_data/LAAM/VE/es/GBPVE/microsite/gm/historia.html
2. ^ http://media.navistar.com/index.php?s=43&item=111
3. ^ http://media.navistar.com/index.php?s=43&item=179
4. ^ http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=5&docid=47990
5. ^ http://www.detnews.com/article/20090609/AUTO01/906090330
6. ^ AutoWeek: GM to halt medium-duty truck production
7. ^ http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2008/11/06/cadillac_testing_new_obama_limo/?page=full